<h1>Obsess, <br>Investigate, <br> Make a Zine!</h1> <div class="gallery"> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-400" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-000.gif"/> <figcaption>A guest lecture for Nikka Singh's class <strong>Punk Pedagogy and Publishing</strong> at the University of Iowa</figcaption> </figure> </div> <p> <strong>Overview of Obsess, Investigate, Make a Zine!</strong> → OBSESS: My Publishing History → INVESTIGATE: Questions → MAKE A ZINE: Workshop </p> <hr /> Next: [[My Publishing History]]<h2>Self-Publishing Year One </h2> <p> <strong>2023</strong> → bought a printer → self-published five zines → <strong>My Mostly Midwest Zine Tour</strong> → in November, begin designing <strong>Chrysanthemum Under the Waves</strong>, my first self-published graphic novel </p> <div class="gallery"> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-300" src="https://maggieumber.com/assets/images/books/maggie-umber-pretzel-cover.jpg"/> <figcaption><a href="https://maggieumber.com/pretzel" target="blank">PRETZEL</a>, 2023<br>Maggie Umber</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-300" src="https://maggieumber.com/assets/images/books/maggie-umber-jonesy-cover.jpg"/> <figcaption><a href="https://maggieumber.com/jonesy" target="blank">Jonesy</a>, 2023<br>Maggie Umber </figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-500" src="https://maggieumber.com/assets/images/blog/2023-04-22-tour-stop-2-print-and-resist.jpg"/> <figcaption><a href="https://maggieumber.com/jonesy" target="blank">Madison Print and Resist</a>, 2023<br>Maggie Umber </figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-300" src="https://maggieumber.com/assets/images/books/maggie-umber-bunworld-1-cover.jpg"/> <figcaption><a href="https://maggieumber.com/bunworld-1" target="blank">Bunworld 1</a>, 2023<br>Maggie Umber </figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-300" src="https://maggieumber.com/assets/images/books/maggie-umber-we-are-hungry-cover.jpg"/> <figcaption><a href="https://maggieumber.com/we-are-hungry" target="blank">WE ARE HUNGRY</a>, 2023<br>Maggie Umber </figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-300" src="https://maggieumber.com/assets/images/books/maggie-umber-chrysanthemum-the-storyboards-cover.jpg"/> <figcaption><a href="https://maggieumber.com/chrysanthemum-the-storyboards" target="blank">Chrysanthemum: the Storyboards</a>, 2023<br>Maggie Umber </figcaption> </figure> </div> <hr /> Next: Self-Publishing [[Year Two]]<h2>My Publishing History *Obsess*</h2> <p> My singular obsession in life BOOKS </p> <div class="gallery"> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-500" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-001.jpg"/> <figcaption>Maggie Umber 7 months old</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-500" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-002.jpg"/> <figcaption>Yes, I'm already obsessed with books</figcaption> </figure> </div> <p>Preschool through high school years, I made picture books and wrote novels</p> <div class="gallery"> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-500" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-003.jpg"/> <figcaption>spread from <strong>It's Treasure</strong> Maggie Umber, pre-school or kindergarten? </figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-500" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-004.jpg"/> <figcaption>spread from <strong>The Moon Diamond</strong> Maggie Umber, 11-12 years old </figcaption> </figure> </div> <p>High school through college, I trained in monotype and intaglio printmaking</p> <div class="gallery"> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-500" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-007.jpg"/> <figcaption>PCAE yearbook, <strong>Tough Chicks Rule the Studio</strong> Maggie Umber, 18 years old </figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-500" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-008.jpg"/> <figcaption>monotype print, <strong>Karen's Horse</strong> Maggie Umber, 18 years old </figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-500" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-009.jpg"/> <figcaption>etching press Hamline University</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-500" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-010.jpg"/> <figcaption>etching, <strong>The Little Man</strong> Maggie Umber, 20 years old </figcaption> </figure> </div> <hr /> Next: Co-founding a Publishing [[Company]]<h2>Co-founding <br>a Publishing <br>Company</h2> <p> <strong>fall 2007 - Jan 2023</strong> For fifteen years I helped run a small press comics publishing company </p> <div class="gallery"> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-400" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-011.JPG"/> <figcaption><strong>Gulag Casual</strong> by Austin English <strong>Mirror Mirror 1</strong> anthology</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-400" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-012.JPG"/> <figcaption>Maggie reading <strong>Sec</strong> by Margot Ferrick</figcaption> </figure> </div> <p> We published a lot of other people's books I also made my own </p> <div class="gallery"> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-300" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-013.jpg"/> <figcaption><strong>Good Minnesotan issue 1</strong>, 2007 Maggie Umber cover and interior design</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-300" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-014.jpg"/> <figcaption><strong>Fall Con</strong>, 2007 Maggie Umber</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-300" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-015.jpg"/> <figcaption><strong>Yard Work</strong>, 2008 Maggie Umber always look at the proof</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-300" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-016.jpg"/> <figcaption><strong>Good Minnesotan 3</strong>, 2008 Sound of Snow Falling 8 pager first book with barcode and spine </figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-300" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-017.jpg"/> <figcaption><strong>Manny + Bigfoot</strong>, 2009 Maggie Umber </figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-300" src="https://maggieumber.com/assets/images/books/maggie-umber-startled-maggie-issue-one-cover.jpg"/> <figcaption><a href="https://maggieumber.com/startled-maggie-1" target="blank">Startled Maggie</a>, 2012 Maggie Umber </figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-300" src="https://maggieumber.com/assets/images/books/maggie-umber-time-capsule-cover.jpg"/> <figcaption><a href="https://maggieumber.com/time-capsule" target="blank">Time Capsule</a>, 2015 Maggie Umber </figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-300" src="https://maggieumber.com/assets/images/books/maggie-umber-sound-of-snow-falling-cover.jpg"/> <figcaption><a href="https://maggieumber.com/sound-of-snow-falling" target="blank">Sound of Snow Falling</a>, 2017 Maggie Umber </figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-300" src="https://maggieumber.com/assets/images/books/maggie-umber-270-cover.jpg"/> <figcaption><a href="https://maggieumber.com/270" target="blank">270°</a>, 2018 Maggie Umber </figcaption> </figure> </div> <div class="gallery"> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-800" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-018.JPG"/> <figcaption>Maggie in the office mid-30s</figcaption> </figure> </div> <hr /> Next: Self-Publishing [[Year One]]<h2>Self-Publishing Year Two</h2> <p> <strong>2024</strong> → January-May designed <strong>Chrysanthemum Under the Waves</strong> → worked with an offset printer by myself for the first time → October 22, self-published my graphic novel <strong>Chrysanthemum Under the Waves</strong> → <strong>The Less is More Zine Tour</strong> </p> <p> 2016-2021, I created nine comics inspired by Shirley Jackson and the seventeenth century ballad figure James Harris </p> <div class="gallery"> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-500" src="https://maggieumber.com/assets/images/books/maggie-umber-chrysanthemum-under-the-waves-cover.jpg"/> <figcaption><a href="https://maggieumber.com/chrysanthemum-under-the-waves" target="blank">Chrysanthemum Under the Waves</a>, 2024 Maggie Umber </figcaption> </figure> </div> <p> <strong>Timeline for printing</strong> → May 28: files received at PrintNinja → May 29: electronic proof 1 → May 31: electronic proof 2 → June 3: electronic proof 3, approved </p> <div class="gallery"> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-500" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-019.jpg"/> <figcaption>electronic proof 1 back and front covers 5/29/24</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-500" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-020.jpg"/> <figcaption>electronic proof 3 back and front covers 6/3/24</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-800" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-021.jpg"/> <figcaption>electronic proof 3 pages 49 and 50 6/3/24</figcaption> </figure> </div> <p> → June 11: hard proof press sheet arrived, approved </p> <div class="gallery"> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-400" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-022.jpg"/> <figcaption>hard proof press sheet 6/11/24</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-400" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-023.jpg"/> <figcaption>detail 6/11/24</figcaption> </figure> </div> <p> → June 12: printing started → July 8: printing wrapped up → July 10: Large Order Production Sample arrived, approved </p> <div class="gallery"> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-400" src="https://maggieumber.com/assets/images/blog/2024-07-16-cutw-production-sample-1.jpg"/> <figcaption>large order production sample 7/10/24</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-400" src="https://maggieumber.com/assets/images/blog/2024-07-16-cutw-production-sample-4.jpg"/> <figcaption>large order production sample 7/10/24</figcaption> </figure> </div> <p> → Aug 18: ready to ship → Aug 28: full order from Shenzhen, China arrives </p> <div class="gallery"> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-400" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-024.jpg"/> <figcaption>two pallets arrive 8/28/2025</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-400" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-025.jpg"/> <figcaption>Maggie breaking down pallets 8/28/25</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-400" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-026.jpg"/> <figcaption>opening the boxes back cover</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-400" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-027.jpg"/> <figcaption>opening the boxes front cover</figcaption> </figure> </div> <div class="gallery"> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-500" src="https://maggieumber.com/assets/images/books/maggie-umber-chrysanthemum-under-the-waves-01.jpg"/> <figcaption><a href="https://maggieumber.com/chrysanthemum-under-the-waves" target="blank">Chrysanthemum Under the Waves</a>, 2024 Maggie Umber </figcaption> </figure> </div> <hr /> Next: Self-Publishing [[Year Three]]<h2>Self-Publishing Year Three</h2> <p> <strong>2025</strong> → <strong>My Millions of Minis Zine Tour</strong> → continued promotion of <strong>Chrysanthemum Under the Waves</strong> → self-published four zines → bought a second printer, so I can print on two printers at once to reduce printing time </p> <div class="gallery"> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-400" src="https://maggieumber.com/assets/images/books/maggie-umber-bunworld-2-cover.jpg"/> <figcaption><a href="https://maggieumber.com/bunworld-2" target="blank">Bunworld 2</a>, 2025 Maggie Umber</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-400" src="https://maggieumber.com/assets/images/books/maggie-umber-so-many-ways-cover.jpg"/> <figcaption><a href="https://maggieumber.com/so-many-ways" target="blank">So Many Ways</a>, 2025 Maggie Umber </figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-400" src="https://maggieumber.com/assets/images/books/maggie-umber-strange-star-cover.jpg"/> <figcaption><a href="https://maggieumber.com/strange-star" target="blank">Strange Star</a>, 2025 Maggie Umber </figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-400" src="https://maggieumber.com/assets/images/books/maggie-umber-pit-bull-eyes-cover.jpg"/> <figcaption><a href="https://maggieumber.com/pit-bull-eyes" target="blank">Pit Bull Eyes</a>, 2025 Maggie Umber </figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-600" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-028.jpg"/> <figcaption>4/19/2025 Maggie tabling Milwaukee Zine Fest</figcaption> </figure> </div> <hr /> Next: [[Workshop]]<h2>Workshop *Make a Zine!*</h2> <p> <strong>Tools that are somewhat interchangeable</strong> → Thumbnails → Storyboards → Dummy → Zine </p> <div class="gallery"> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-800" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-034.jpg"/> <figcaption><strong>thumbnails</strong> small storyboards</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-800" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-031.jpg"/> <figcaption><strong>storyboards</strong> larger than thumbnails</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-400" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-000.gif"/> <figcaption><strong>dummy</strong> blank book where you build your layout</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-400" src="https://maggieumber.com/assets/images/books/maggie-umber-pretzel-cover.jpg"/> <figcaption><strong>zine</strong> short for magazine, self-published pamphlet</figcaption> </figure> </div> <hr /> Next: Making Blank [[Books]]<h2>Making Blank Books</h2> <p> Let's make two blank books! </p> <div class="gallery"> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-400" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-059.jpg"/> <figcaption>→ Grab two sheets of paper</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-400" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-060.jpg"/> <figcaption>→ Fold each paper in half once → Cut or tear each paper in half along the fold</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-400" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-061.jpg"/> <figcaption>→ Divide the four papers into two piles</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-400" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-062.jpg"/> <figcaption>→ Fold each pile once so it's a book (One book is a dummy, the other is a zine)</figcaption> </figure> </div> <p> Make the dummy! </p> <div class="gallery"> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-400" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-063.jpg"/> <figcaption>→ Grab one of the books → Write FRONT COVER on the front → Write BACK COVER on the back</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-400" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-064.jpg"/> <figcaption>→ Number the inside, starting and ending with the inner covers → You should have 6 pages</figcaption> </figure> </div> <hr /> Next: Thumbnails into a [[Zine]]<h2>Thumbnails into a Zine</h2> <p>Let's make thumbnails! </p> <div class="gallery"> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-400" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-065.jpg"/> <figcaption>→ Grab a new sheet of paper</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-400" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-066.jpg"/> <figcaption>→ Draw 6 rectangles of a similar size spaced out across the paper</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-400" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-067.jpg"/> <figcaption>→ Assign a page number 1 to 6 to each of the rectangles</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-400" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-068.jpg"/> <figcaption>→ Turn each rectangle into a grid of 4 panels each</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-400" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-069.jpg"/> <figcaption>→ Write three letters or a three-lettered word at the top of each grid</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-400" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-071.jpg"/> <figcaption>→ Use the letters to make four drawings one in each panel</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-800" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-070.jpg"/> <figcaption>→ Detail of page 1 grid</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-400" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-072.jpg"/> <figcaption>→ Pick your favorite drawing from each grid Draw it on the corresponding page in your zine</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-400" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-073.jpg"/> <figcaption>→ Top is your zine Bottom is your dummy</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-400" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-074.jpg"/> <figcaption>→ Finish your final two pages</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-400" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-075.jpg"/> <figcaption>→ Draw your front cover Invent a title, put your name, or don't</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="gallery-item"> <img class="thumbnail-800" src="https://maggieumber.github.io/obsess-investigate-make-a-zine/assets/img/maggie-umber-obsess-investigate-make-a-zine-076.jpg"/> <figcaption>→ Draw your back cover Sum up the contents of your zine</figcaption> </figure> </div> <p> <strong>Marketing</strong> → Staple your zine → Trade it with someone if you want! → Make several versions and see which one you like best </p>